The Community Empowerment Fund

What The Community Empowerment Fund does

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 and headquartered in North Carolina, delivering person-centered financial support services to residents of Durham and Orange Counties. Its program portfolio is built around six interlocking offerings: Volunteer Advocates who provide one-on-one guidance; Safe Savings Accounts delivered in partnership with Self-Help Credit Union featuring a 20% savings match; Financial Coaching spanning 65 topics; a First-Time Homebuyer Program; the Orange Community Hub co-location point; and the OC Connect resource database. The organization reports approximately 13+ staff, 100+ volunteers, and 3,000 Members served since inception.

CEF's technology stack is intentionally narrow and is anchored by a Salesforce-based platform branded CEF Connect, used for member case management, advocacy tracking, and resource coordination. OC Connect extends this footprint as a community-facing resource directory. There is no disclosed proprietary AI/ML or advanced analytics layer; the platform functions as structured CRM and referral infrastructure rather than as a differentiated technology product. Operational tools extend to standard donation-channel integrations such as AmazonSmile and vehicle donation processing.

The revenue model is a traditional nonprofit donation stack: individual giving, corporate matching gifts, event-based fundraising, AmazonSmile, vehicle donations, and institutional grants through partners such as the Stewards Fund and Morgan Stanley. One documented campaign generated $138,014.65, and Stripe is used as the payment processor. Stripe was not publicly disclosed, and full financial statements are not available in the input, limiting revenue visibility. Distribution relies heavily on university partnerships (UNC School of Social Work, Duke), the IFC, and a network of housing and homelessness partners including Housing for New Hope, Families Moving Forward, Kramden Institute, and the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness.

Name

The Community Empowerment Fund

Legal name

Community Empowerment Fund

Website

https://communityempowermentfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Community Empowerment Fund is a North Carolina 501(c)(3) founded in 2009 that delivers Volunteer Advocates, Safe Savings Accounts with a 20% match, Financial Coaching, and a First-Time Homebuyer Program to roughly 3,000 Members across Durham and Orange Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Matched savings accounts
• Financial coaching
• First-time homebuyer program
• Community advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors. The organization offers monthly giving program ('Founder's Circle'), text-to-give option ('GIVECEF' to 44-321), and annual fundraising campaigns. Donations are tax-deductible as CEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 27-0428981).
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers have matching gift programs that double or triple employee charitable contributions.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Piggy Bank Bash event and other fundraising events. The organization also facilitates Facebook fundraisers and GiveLively platform fundraisers.
4. AmazonSmile: Amazon donates a portion of purchases made through AmazonSmile to CEF at no additional cost to donors.
5. Vehicle Donations: Donations of vehicles through CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Community Empowerment Fund provides free, person-centered support services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in Durham and Orange Counties, NC. Core offerings include one-on-one Advocate relationships, matched Safe Savings Accounts (15-20% match on savings goals), Financial Coaching across 65 topics, and a First-Time Homebuyer Program with HUD-certified education and down payment assistance.

Product overview

The Community Empowerment Fund offers a suite of person-centered support programs designed to combat homelessness and the racial wealth gap. The core offerings include: relationship-based support through trained volunteer Advocates; matched Safe Savings Accounts with a 20% incentive; Financial Coaching across 65 topics; a First-Time Homebuyer Program with HUD-certified education and down payment assistance; the Orange Community Hub providing co-located social services; and the OC Connect digital resource database. These programs work together to support Members' employment, housing, and financial goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocates - Relationship-Based Support Volunteer Advocates provide consistent one-on-one support to Members working toward goals around employment, housing, and financial savings through sustained relationships. Free to Members.
• Safe Savings Accounts Matched savings accounts offering a 15-20% match incentive for Members who achieve savings goals and work with Advocates, including laptop savings and external banking partnerships. Free to eligible Members.
• Financial Coaching Customized hands-on coaching covering 65 different topics including personal finance, job readiness, and health, delivered through one-on-one Advocate relationships. Free to Members.
• First-Time Homebuyer Program Program offering financial coaching, HUD-certified homebuyer education, and homeownership match savings (closing + down payment assistance) to empower community members to purchase their first home. Targeted at first-time homebuyers earning under 50% AMI.
• Orange Community Hub Collaborative service delivery model bringing together private, public, and governmental resources to provide integrated, person-centered support in a one-stop environment. Located at 208 N. Columbia Street in Chapel Hill (formerly; now relocated to Carrboro).
• OC Connect Resource Database Online community resource database consolidating services and resources offered by government and non-profit organizations in Orange County, free and accessible to the public at occonnect.info.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members have saved over $1.2 million towards asset-building goals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Self-Help (Center for Responsible Lending)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelf-Help is listed as a partner organization. Self-Help is a nonprofit lender that focuses on serving low-income communities and is affiliated with the Center for Responsible Lending.
• UNC School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNC School of Social Work provides student interns and supports academic-community collaboration. UNC students frequently serve as volunteer Advocates.
• Duke UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke University partnership includes student volunteers, research collaboration, and community engagement. Duke students serve as Advocates and participate in community advocacy efforts.
• Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFC is a key partner for housing services and cold weather shelter coordination. CEF refers Members to IFC services and collaborates on housing advocacy initiatives including the House Us Now campaign.
• Housing for New HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on housing solutions and support services for community members.
• Families Moving ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing support services for families in transition.
• Kramden InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Laptop Savings Program, Members can save $70 with CEF to purchase affordable, refurbished laptop computers from Kramden Institute.
• Orange County Partnership to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC Connect resource database is funded through the Partnership to End Homelessness. CEF collaborates with the partnership for coordinated assessment and routing of individuals at risk of or facing homelessness.
• OC Hub CollaboratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHub collaborators include: IFC, Land of Sky, UNC School of Social Work, Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, The Town of Hillsborough, and various community organizations providing integrated services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Self-Help Credit Union: North Carolina-based community development financial institution serving low-income communities with responsible lending and asset-building products; CEF's named partner and the closest peer on the financial-coaching/matched-savings axis.
• Family Promise: National 501(c)(3) addressing family homelessness through volunteer-driven, relationship-based support — closely mirrors CEF's Advocate model of sustained one-on-one engagement with Members to achieve housing and financial stability.
• Families Moving Forward: Durham-area nonprofit supporting families in transition with housing and self-sufficiency programming — directly comparable to CEF's family and individual stabilization work in the same Triangle geography.
• Housing for New Hope: Durham, NC-based nonprofit providing housing solutions and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness; CEF's existing partner and the most direct local peer in target geography and population.
• Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC): Chapel Hill/Orange County social services agency operating emergency shelter and housing programs; CEF's core OC Hub partner and a directly comparable provider of housing and basic-needs services to the same Member population.
• Community Solutions: Operates the Built for Zero campaign, a homelessness-services nonprofit focused on data-driven, community-led action to end homelessness — comparable to CEF's combination of direct service, advocacy, and outcome measurement.

Broad incumbents

• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): National community development organization investing in housing, economic opportunity, and health in underserved communities; comparable mission and integrated service model, but at national scale and with capital-deployment focus.
• Mercy Housing: One of the largest US affordable housing nonprofits, combining housing development with resident services. Comparable to CEF's housing-stability and asset-building mission but at national scale and with a development-heavy model.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit combining affordable housing development with place-based programs addressing economic resilience; shares CEF's housing-plus-financial-stability thesis but operates as a large-scale developer and intermediary.
• Habitat for Humanity: National nonprofit advancing affordable homeownership for low-income households through volunteer-built housing and homebuyer pathways; directly comparable to CEF's First-Time Homebuyer Program at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communityef
• Xx.com/communityef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-community-empowerment-fund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Community Empowerment Fund